Gaye Adegbalola is a mother, musician, composer, writer, teacher and presenter. She has performed all over the world individually and as part of the group Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. She is openly lesbian, a Blues Music Award winner, Alligator Records recording artist and a former Virginia State Teacher of the Year. She now sees herself as a contemporary griot keeping the history alive.

Gaye was also an activist in the Black Power Movement in New York City in the 1960’s and formed the Harlem Committee of Self-Defense. She and her father directed the Black Experimental Theater Group, Harambee 360º,that she often acted with from 1970-88.
In 1984 Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women was formed who she sang with until 2009.

Since Saffire ended in November of 2009 (after 25 years), Gaye plans to continue performing and songwriting, In 2010, Saffire’s documentary, "Hot Flash," was nominated for Best Blues DVD of the Year and the song "It Hurts Me Too" from "Gaye Without Shame" rolls under the credits of the hit HBO TV show True Blood. Gaye is also featured as one of "35 Sexy Lesbian Musicians" in Curve Magazine's 20th Anniversary Issue (July/August 2010).

She was selected as one of the OUTstanding Virginians of 2011 by Equality Virginia, a statewide, non-partisan education, outreach, and advocacy organization seeking equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians and is performing with Bob Margolin’s VizzTone Blues Revue across the country.

Gaye Adegbalola continues to work diligently for ways to improve the human condition in her daily life. In the music she composes, she provides a voice for those who have been marginalized by society. With her unique writing style, she is often able to find humor in the pain which, in turn, empowers her listeners to live – and not just survive. A long time activist, she is presently involved with issues of diversity and is committed to the struggle for GLBT rights.

The Guthrie Theater presents_
a Penumbra Theatre Company production
February 11 - March 6, 2011

It’s 1927 and fiery blues legend Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (Jevetta Steele) is getting ready to lay down a hit record with her virtuoso band. As she strides into the cramped, South Side Chicago recording studio, she squares off against a battling quartet of musicians, a tight-fisted producer and her manager who’s just trying to keep the recording session on track.

While Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is largely about the music and personalities that are a part of creating it, Ma’s sexuality is part of the play, and her girlfriend, Dussie Mae, is part of her entourage in the studio.

In 1928 she recorded "Prove it on Me Blues," which makes no secret of her relationships with women.

Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey is the most extensive survey of transgender discrimination ever undertaken. Over 6,450 responses are included in the survey, which explored discrimination in all aspects of life.